Manila:The Commission on Elections (Comelec) is planning to repurpose supplies originally intended for the Barangay and Sangguniang Kabataan Elections (BSKE) for a special election in Batanes, tentatively scheduled for December.
According to Philippines News Agency, Comelec Chairperson George Garcia said that using these supplies could help reduce costs given the commission's limited budget. He mentioned that the supplies intended for the BSKE on November 2, such as indelible ink, ballpens, and thumbprint tape, could be temporarily borrowed for the Batanes election.
Garcia highlighted that the remaining financial concerns would involve teachers' honoraria, personnel mobilization costs, and ballot printing. The House of Representatives recently adopted a Senate measure to reschedule the BSKE from November this year to November 2028, extending the terms for village and youth officials to five years.
The special election in Batanes aims to fill the congressional seat left vacant by the late Rep. Ciriaco Gato Jr., who died of cardiac arrest on September 21. The election is expected to take place on December 19.
In another development, Garcia stated that there is no requirement for a special election for the Quirino governor position following the death of Governor Dakila Carlo 'Dax' Cua from lung cancer. The Local Government Code's succession rule will be applied, allowing Vice Governor Julius Caesar Vaquilar to assume the governorship. The top provincial board member will take over as vice governor, and the President has the authority to appoint someone to fill the vacant board member position. Governor Cua passed away on September 15 at the age of 48.
